Industrial Design

An industrial design is the ornamental or aesthetic aspect of an article. The design may consist of three-dimensional features such as the shape and configuration of an article, or two-dimensional features, such as pattern and ornamentation. The design features must be applied to an article by any industrial process or means of which the features in the finished article appeal to eye

Layout-Design Of An Integrated Circuit

A layout-design of an integrated circuit is the three-dimensional disposition of the elements of an integrated circuit and some or all of the interconnections of the integrated circuit or such three-dimensional disposition prepared for an integrated circuit intended for manufacture.

Definition of Patent

A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention, which is a product or a process that provides a new way of doing something, or offers a new technical solution to a problem.

Definition of Utility Innovation

A utility innovation is an exclusive right granted for a “minor” invention which does not require to satisfy the test of inventiveness as required of a patent.

Patentable Inventions

New, which means that the invention has not been publicly disclosed in any form, anywhere in the world;

Involve an inventive step, that is to say the invention must not be obvious to someone with knowledge and experience in the technological field of the invention; and

Industrially applicable, meaning it can be mass produced.

Non-Patentable Inventions

Discoveries, scientific theories and mathematical methods;

Plant or animal varieties or essentially biological processes for the production of plants or animals, other than man-made living micro- organisms, micro-biological processes and the products of such micro-organism processes;

Methods for the treatment of human or animal body by surgery or therapy, and diagnostic methods practiced on the human or animal body.

Importance of Patent Registration

To exploit the patented invention

To assign or transmit the patent

To conclude license contracts

Duration of Patent

A patent is protected 20 years from the date of filing.

Duration of Utility Innovation

A utility innovation is protected 10 + 5 + 5 years from the date of filing subject to use.

Who May Apply?

Any person may make an application for a patent or for a utility innovation either alone or jointly with another person. The word “person” is not limited to natural persons and thus also includes, for example, a company.